Seoullo 7017

Seoullo 7017 is a sky garden built on an old overpass that once carried cars across the tracks at Seoul Station. On a road 17 m above the ground, hundreds of round planters now line the walkway, with the railway and the old Seoul Station building below. If you arrive at Seoul Station, it makes an easy detour on the way to Namdaemun Market or Malli-dong.

History: from a 1970 overpass to a 2017 walkway

The Seoul Station Overpass was built in 1970 as a symbol of industrial progress. It linked Hoehyeon-dong, Jungnim-dong and Cheongpa-dong, neighbourhoods long divided by the railway. Over time it deteriorated, and an inspection found it would reach the end of its safe life by late 2015. Instead of demolishing it, the city decided to turn it into a park for pedestrians only, taking inspiration from projects like New York's High Line that gave old elevated structures a new life.

The overpass closed to traffic on 13 December 2015 and reopened as a walkway on 20 May 2017. The name "7017" combines 1970, when the overpass was built, 2017, when it was reborn, the 17 pedestrian routes it connects and its 17 m height. The conversion was controversial: merchants of Namdaemun Market and others argued that a replacement road should come first.

Seoullo in numbers

• 1,024 m in total: 810 m on the elevated main section and 214 m at ground level towards Hoehyeon Station.
• 10.3 m wide, 17 m at its highest: The width of the old roadway was kept.
• 645 round planters: They hold about 24,000 flowers and trees from 228 species in 50 plant families. The planters are arranged in Korean alphabetical order of the plant names, so reading the labels as you walk is part of the fun. Their rims double as benches.
• Night lights: Most planters have ring lights, and after dark the whole walkway glows softly.

What to see

• Old Seoul Station: From the walkway you look down on the old Gyeongseong Station building from 1925 (now the arts venue Culture Station Seoul 284) and the square in front of it.
• Railway views: KTX and commuter trains pass right below you. To the north the wide rail yards give way to downtown towers.
• Rest stops and small gardens: A rose stage, a garden classroom, a café and exhibition spaces are spread along the route.

Tripto tips

• Opening and fees: Open 24 hours and free.
• Getting there: It connects directly to Seoul Station. The east end leads down towards Namdaemun Market and Hoehyeon Station, the west end towards Malli-dong. Lifts serve the main connection points.
• Time needed: 20–30 minutes from end to end, or about an hour with breaks.
• When to go: Evening, when the lights come on, is best. Midday in high summer is hot, as there is little shade.
• Combine with: Sungnyemun Gate and Namdaemun Market are a short walk away. Check what is on at Culture Station Seoul 284 too.
• Toilets: These are in nearby buildings, not on the walkway itself.